Levante's amazing run keeps Real, Barca at bay
Source: Agencies |
October 25, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TINY Levante's bid for La Liga survival has started so well it is surprisingly clear of Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top the standings for the first time in its 102 years.
The unbeaten Valencia-based side is looking to continue its remarkable run with a seventh consecutive victory when Real Sociedad visits tomorrow.
It is already halfway to the traditional 40-point mark considered necessary to avoid relegation after only eight games and is one point ahead of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in second, which it stunned 1-0 last month.
The cash-strapped club operates on one of the league's smallest budgets at around 20 million euros, and has a team assembled from free transfers, out-of-contract players and loan signings, yet has defied all pre-season predictions.
On the pitch, it is led by barrel-chested La Liga old hand Sergio Ballesteros, and the 36-year-old is ably supported by a host of other 30 somethings.
In the dugout, Juan Ignacio Martinez, known as JIM in the local media, is in his debut top-flight campaign, and he is not about to let the success go to the squad's heads.
"What the team has achieved is something to enjoy, to be leaders of this league ahead of such great teams, it's something very special," Martinez told reporters after his side beat Champions League contender Villarreal 3-0 away on Sunday.
"But despite this, we need to keep on working, we need to keep our feet on the ground and to be conscious there is still a long way to go.
"Our aim is to avoid relegation," he said.
Midfielder Juanlu, one of a slew of Levante players over 30, netted twice in the first half at the Madrigal and Arouna Kone struck 13 minutes into the second period as Juan Ignacio Martinez's unfancied side secured a sixth straight win.
The unbeaten Valencia-based side is looking to continue its remarkable run with a seventh consecutive victory when Real Sociedad visits tomorrow.
It is already halfway to the traditional 40-point mark considered necessary to avoid relegation after only eight games and is one point ahead of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in second, which it stunned 1-0 last month.
The cash-strapped club operates on one of the league's smallest budgets at around 20 million euros, and has a team assembled from free transfers, out-of-contract players and loan signings, yet has defied all pre-season predictions.
On the pitch, it is led by barrel-chested La Liga old hand Sergio Ballesteros, and the 36-year-old is ably supported by a host of other 30 somethings.
In the dugout, Juan Ignacio Martinez, known as JIM in the local media, is in his debut top-flight campaign, and he is not about to let the success go to the squad's heads.
"What the team has achieved is something to enjoy, to be leaders of this league ahead of such great teams, it's something very special," Martinez told reporters after his side beat Champions League contender Villarreal 3-0 away on Sunday.
"But despite this, we need to keep on working, we need to keep our feet on the ground and to be conscious there is still a long way to go.
"Our aim is to avoid relegation," he said.
Midfielder Juanlu, one of a slew of Levante players over 30, netted twice in the first half at the Madrigal and Arouna Kone struck 13 minutes into the second period as Juan Ignacio Martinez's unfancied side secured a sixth straight win.
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